Summary
Michael Collins joins Andrew to discuss the National Intelligence Council. Michael is the NIC’s current acting chair.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
The role of the National Intelligence Council
National Intelligence Officers and their work around the world
The products of the NIC, including the Annual Threat Assessment
The importance of Intelligence Diplomacy and objective analysis
Reflections
The power of collaboration
Staying grounded and optimistic
And much, much more …
Quotes of the Week
“In the analytic product, the first paragraph says: Here's the bad thing. Second paragraph says: This is what the bad thing means for the United States. Third paragraph is: What can be done to stop the bad thing, or more importantly, to identify an opportunity. I have to be optimistic. If I weren't, I wouldn't be in this job.” – Michael Collins.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
Telling Americans About China (and Intelligence) with Sara Castro (2024)
CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
The Past 75 Years with Historian of the CIA Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones (2022)
The National Intelligence University with its President Scott Cameron (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
America’s Intelligence Community, Explained, Washington Post, YouTube (2014) [2 min. video]
What is Intelligence Analysis and Why is It So Important? National American University (n.d.) [Short article]
Members of the IC, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (n.d.) [List of agencies]
DEEPER DIVE
Primary Sources
2024 Annual Threat Assessment (2024)
IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026 (2024)
2023 National Intelligence Strategy (2023)
Updated Assessment of Anomalous Health Incidents (2023)
Global Trends 2040 (2021)
National Intelligence Estimates on Climate Change (2021)
*Wildcard Resource*
This week’s guest shares a name with another intelligence professional: Michael Collins (1890-1922), a prominent leader of Irish independence.
You may remember this Michael Collins from his involvement in the 1916 Easter Rising, but did you know he was also the Director of Intelligence for the Irish Republican Army? Check out some of “The Squad’s” spy gadgets and artifacts here.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The National Intelligence Council – with Michael Collins | SpyCast podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
